‘A Grand Jury Unlocked’

The most important lesson to be learned from the post-World War I and post-World War II Red Scares, the Japanese internment, and our current War on Terror, is that no matter how formidable an enemy may perceived to be, as your editorial put it so eloquently: “This does not mean that we have to abandon our system of civil liberties, presumption of innocence, and common decency” [Editorial, “A Grand Jury Unlocked,” July 1, 2008].

Over the years, more and more people all over the world have perceived the Rosenberg case as that of an American Dreyfus.

The National Committee to Reopen the Rosenberg Case, confident that exoneration will eventually come, is very much alive, thank you, and hardly “a dwindling group of leftists.”

Those scholars who honestly seek the truth deserve our support, along with the latest decision of the government regarding the grand jury transcripts.

May they all be declassified and released, as completely and as quickly as possible.

LEONARD LEHRMAN

Co-Director National Committee to Reopen the Rosenberg Case

Valley Stream, N.Y.

‘Reverse Eminent Domain’

Your editorial brought to mind Prime Minister Thatcher’s privatization of the Britain’s public monopoly [Editorial, “Reverse Eminent Domain,” July 3, 2008].

If we had rendered it possible for private enterprise to build upon the World Trade Center site, yes, it would have been completed or well under way by this date.

And just as September 11, 2001, brought America together, a permanent remembrance of that horrific day will do the same-for future generations, so that we never forget what this great republic means to us.

Perhaps, a Referendum will suffice to engender the “Reverse Eminent Domain” process. How about it?

NANCY JANCOURTZ

Brooklyn, N.Y.

‘Legalize All Drugs’

Regarding John Stossel’s article, there is a middle ground between drug prohibition and blanket legalization [Oped, “Legalize All Drugs,” June 18, 2008].

Switzerland’s heroin maintenance program has been shown to reduce disease, death and crime among chronic users. Providing addicts with standardized doses in a clinical setting eliminates many of the problems associated with heroin use.

Heroin maintenance pilot projects are underway in Canada, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. If expanded, prescription heroin maintenance would deprive organized crime of a core client base. This would render illegal heroin trafficking unprofitable and spare future generations addiction.

Marijuana should be taxed and regulated like alcohol, only without the ubiquitous advertising. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical.

As long as marijuana distribution is controlled by organized crime, consumers of the most popular illicit drugs will continue to come into contact with sellers of addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin.

Given that marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol, it makes no sense to waste scarce resources on failed policies that finance organized crime and facilitate hard drug use.

ROBERT SHARPE

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.